How Did You Start Out?

Started with my neighbors push mower,then bought my own Weed-Eater Wal-Mart special (still using it).I then bought an echo line trimmer,then a used MTD lawn tractor which broke down and I had to fix it after a month(spindles,belts,and a pulley).A friend gave me a craftsman chain-saw,bought an echo hand-held blower(got rid of the black and decker corded!!),another friend gave me some commercial hedge trimmers,another friend let me use his 6 ft. utility trailer for a month. I then bought a used Ferris w/b off craig's list along with a 10 ft. trailer,bought an echo stick edger and got rid of the antique briggs,then bought an echo back-pack blower in great shape for $50- whew !!

I started off the dumb way. But it really helped me get biz and pay that crap off. I bought a brand new trailer- paid cash, a new ztr, trimmer, blower, and truck! All financed. but paid off within 2 years.

Not much $ invested. A few hundred dollars. But I offer quality service for the buck. I do complete yards blow, mow, weed, edge, trim, & prune for a set price on contract or a bid price on one time service. Now I contract with car dealerships, real estate companies, property managers, & several churches. I continue to grow my business & accounts. But I have done so as I could afford to grow.

#3 Kind of. I bought a new 48" bobcat walk behind. I bought a used 48" bobcat walk behind about halfway through my first year and an older 48" bunton. New trimmer, new blower, new trailer. I already had a pickup truck, and I bought a lot of stuff as I needed it. Some stuff went on credit cards and I had trouble my first winter. That was 9 years ago and I havent looked back. I am glad I bought new equipment because just starting out and not having backups for everything its good to have new reliable equipment if you can swing it. It was tough but I scraped together the cash and did it. I also started out part time after work so I had another income the whole time.

I was up north fishing. I was thinking I have to make some extra money so one day a could build a small cabin up in northern wisconsin. I work with a few guys that mow on the time off from the fire house. I came home called them and the next thing I know I have a 5 year old bobcat 48 that a got for 500.00 . I went to my towns lawn and power shop and picked up a new stihl blower and trimmer. I had a small flip up trailer that worked for a month. them picked up a new carry all trailer 6x12 Because I got so many accounts I hade to by a new great dane super surfer. I had it all paid off by sept.

I started out young, probably earlier then I should of. When I was in like 5th grade (2001), I was doing 4 or 5 neighbors places with Dad's 311 Dixon and commercial John Deere trimmer. The next year Mom bought me a Toro 21", and I bought a John Deere handheld blower. Year after that I went 50/50 with Dad on a brand new 3303, 30" Dixon. Then in 2006, I bought a brand new 44" Dixon, then the next year traded it for a used 50" Dixon, and also bought a used Walker. This year, I added a new 52" Grasshopper. Over the years I have bought a few edgers, a bunch of trimmers, and a few blowers. I am FINALLY at the point that I have about the best lineup of equipment possible for the lawns I do. Only thing that will make it better is buying my friends Dodge 3/4 ton flatbed dump truck.

I graduate HS in 2 months, and plan to be doing this full time for the foreseeable future.

Mix of #1 and #2 Started in spring of 2007 with my parents push mower and crappy trimmer. That fall I bought my john deere for $420 bucks and the guy gave me a crappy trimmer with it. Paid it off in a month and plowed snow all winter with it. Bought some more crappy handhelds and a lawn trailer at the begining of this year and through everything in it and pulled it behind my deere around town. mowed 5 lawns all year and was able to buy what is in my sig. Hopefully 2009 treats me well.